[thistleclub]

Bike lanes are good for more than just bikes
(Hamilton Spectator, Cheryl Stepan, Sept 9 2013)

The city's recent decision to allow bike lanes on Cannon Street is as symbolic as it was smart.

It's a sign that citizens are engaged — more than 2,300 residents signed a petition calling for the protected two-way lanes on the busy artery, in addition to holding a Cannon Street "bike parade" in June.

It's a sign council is listening to those citizens, who were instrumental in persuading council to approve the $600,000 pilot project. Councillor Jason Farr, who made the bike-lane motion, noted how impressed he was by the widespread community support.

It's a sign council is willing to try new things, even in the face of heated criticism from motorists upset about losing a car lane to the plan.

"It's a tough call," admitted Councillor Bernie Morelli, who said he'd heard from residents angry about the proposal. "But I want (councillors) to know you're doing the right thing."

Most of all, it's a sign Hamilton is continuing to transform into a livable city with friendly public spaces for everyone, not just those with four wheels. And it's about taking seriously our commitment to create safer roads and a healthier city to help make Hamilton "the best place to raise a child." (It is worth noting, as one resident pointed out, that there are 10 schools within a block of Cannon).

Of course, people can and will dispute whether the bike lanes on Cannon are the right execution, right location or whether these lanes actually work or make roads safer for cyclists and others. It is always a delicate balancing act to meet the needs of commuters, truckers and business owners who demand adequate street parking.

But the point is we are trying to make our city better — more livable, healthier, more connected. It's a start. And who knows who and what it will inspire down the road? This year's Economic Summit heard from Gil Penalosa, executive director of the Canadian NGO 8 to 80 Cities. He told the summit how his native city of Bogota, Colombia, transformed itself by constructing hundreds of parks, paths and bike lanes, eventually increasing the number of cyclists to 300,000 from 20,000 — this, despite the fact Bogota has one-eighth the per capita income of Hamilton.

City council is to be applauded for listening to the pleas of its residents. That is key to creating the city we both need and desire.

Adding bike lanes is a good reflection of the city's changing social, environmental and economic values. And those are about more than just getting business done and getting from point A to point B. They are about quality of life and becoming the most desirable community we can be. And all the ingredients are in place to do just that — an engaged citizenry, a willing council and a city on the brink of something truly transformative.